I have been raising sheep ever since I can remember. I have recently been researching the history of sheep to help the kids better understand where sheep came from. I wasn’t expecting to learn that sheep had been smuggled into this country. Enjoy these Tuesday EWESday fun facts about where sheep came from.

Sheep were domesticated 10,000 years ago in Central Asia.
Sheep production began during biblical times.
Raising sheep is the oldest organized industry.
There are over 40 breeds of sheep in the U.S. and approximately 900
different breeds around the world.
Sheep were smuggled into the states during the 16th and 17 centuries
to develop the wool industry.
Along with goats sheep were first brought to America by Columbus
in 1493.
The Navajo Churro is the oldest breed of sheep in the U.S.
By 1698, America was exporting wool.

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Oh the memories that social media brings back. Thank You TimeHop for reminding me of this moment. For all you moms and dads out there, I know you can relate. When raising toddlers, there seems to be a phase that I called “crying over spilled milk”. This was a phase I thought could be prevented by sippy cups and proper cup holding education. But then comes a day where they want to be grown up and use a big kid cup. You show them how it’s done and start with a little cute plastic cup with just enough milk inside to make them feel grown up. Part of you wants and needs them to become more independent but the other part wants to keep them small. Slowly you add more milk and you serve them a fuller glass to tie them over while you are finishing meal prep. It’s going great, you almost forget that danger is in site. Then when you have to be some where and you are in a hurry, it happens. The milk gets spilled. All over their food, the counter and their lap. Panic ensues because you don’t have time for this. You may even cry over the spilled milk. You may raise your tone and say what in the world were you doing, you know better than this. Then your child starts crying. If you are not crying already you may be now because you made your adorable child cry…over milk.

It happens and I would venture to guess even the mom or dad who you think has it all together may even have had this same experience just before you saw them at Pre-School drop off or at the office. They will be drinking extra tea, coffee or even a Monster. They may be pretending they are late because of traffic while it was really just spilled milk.

Don’t cry over spilled milk, one day there will be no one to spill the milk and this in itself may make me cry. The days can be long but oh the years are short. It’s just milk.

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Are you wondering what in the world I am going to write about? I can assure you it is not clothing, as I write this it is -10 degrees. It is a new year and we are talking pounds.

Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Vegan and Flexitarian. It is no wonder people in our country have no idea what in the world to eat and feed our children. I was listening to the TODAY Show and their panel was mentioning their favorite opinions of how to eat healthy and loose weight. Mediterranean, Dash and Flexitarian diets were just named by the US News and World Report as the best diets to follow to ensure better health. While they did recommend eating lean proteins and not cutting red meat out of our diets one of the panelists said eating organic meats and inquiring about the diets those animals ate is important. Have you ever spoken to the grocery store butcher who knew exactly what the protein you want to eat ate? It sounds like a tongue twister and the answer would be No on most occasions. I say worry less about labels such as non-GMO, cage free, free range, hormone free and more about moderation and color. Labels are confusing and that’s another conversation.

So, let me break this down. I am not a dietitian, but I have many friends who are, and I have spent countless hours in conversation about what is the best diet to follow. Nearly everyone of them says moderation, less processed foods and more exercise. Eating a balanced diet and a colorful plate is an easy way to start if you do not want to follow an official diet. If you are eating color and I don’t mean a bag of skittles, you are headed in the right direction. Being a busy mom on the go, it is hard not to swing through the drive through for a burger or chicken nuggets. Eat together as a family sitting at your counter or table verses in the car in between sports practice or chores. I have made a list of a few items I find helpful to get us eating healthy and spending time together as a family during meal time.

Make time each week to meal plan and make your grocery shopping list with all the needed ingredients. I find myself cooking way more and healthier when I have all the food in the refrigerator and pantry.

Meal prep for you and the children. Pack your healthy lunches when you are packing the kids lunches. I pack all our lunches on Sunday evening for the week. It’s all grab and go but healthy. Planned meals are often healthier.

Keep fast food eating to a minimum. Pack healthy snacks in the car to avoid those moments you cave into the kids and stop at their favorite burger drive through when they are starving. It’s so easy just to pull in and eat in the car. Save this for a special, treat every occasionally.

When you come home from the grocery prep your fruits and vegetables, so they are ready to grab and go when you are in the middle of the busy week. You are more than likely to eat them if they are washed, cut and in containers or baggies.

Use the local grocery shopping service. Log online and have someone shop for you. All you have to do it pull up curbside and take your groceries home. This also eliminates those non-healthy items like chips, cookies or pop that magically appear on the belt at check out.

Keep bottled water in the car in your purse and on your desk. Water is so good for you and remember don’t drink your calories. Cutting soda or pop out of your diet is a huge calorie saver.

Eating in moderation is always easier said than done but if taking a few pounds off this winter is your goal I know you can do it. Remember warm weather is only a few months off and that means shorts and swimsuits…. that is enough to scare me into eating a more colorful plate.

Who can resist a baby animal. I don’t care what kind of a baby animal it is (exception snakes), they just make people smile. Babies are truly little miracles and we are blessed with a lot of miracles in our barns and fields. Enjoy these Tuesday Ewesday facts centered around lambing.

Ewes cycle 14-19 days during breeding season.We lamb most of our ewes in the fall. We do breed some for winter lambs and spring lambs. Dorsets are typically fertile and can breed for babies multiple times a year. So some of our ewes could (if we wanted) have lambs twice in each year.

The gestation of a baby lamb is 145-155 days.

Most ewes will lamb on their own completely unassisted. On occasion we do have to assist in the lambing (giving birth) process.

Ewes will have on average 1-3 lambs each delivery. They can have up to 4 but it is not common. If I could request how many lambs a mamma would have it would be twins. Ewes typically can produce enough milk for two babies and raise them just fine. This is not to say a ewe can not raise triplets or quads on their own but it is not typical.

The first milk the ewe makes is colostrum. Babies exclusively only need their mothers milk for the first few weeks of life. Lambs will begin to taste or stick their nose in water sometimes in their first week, because they see their mamma drink. We allow access to what we call “creep feed” in the first 2 weeks. The creep feeding area is for lambs only and gives them access to a protein pellet that will begin to help them grow and get all the nutrients they need. They are still nursing from their mothers.

Baby lambs are born with tails. We band or dock tails in their first week to two weeks of life.

Lambs are typically weaned from their mothers milk at the age of 2-3 months.

You may be nothing like me and dislike everything I put on this list, but here are some ideas that I think most women would love. I am plain, I am simple and I would rather give gifts and watch them be opened than receive. I am also very practical and don’t mind useful gifts. So, yes I don’t mind new kitchen gadgets or household appliances. I do enjoy things that everyone doesn’t have. You will find a few items that are on the pricier end but I love them and use them. I do enjoy indulging in some things. I am a mom who spends a lot of time working outside and in the barn. Even farm girls like to be spoiled every once in a while. If you are a mom or someday want to be a mom you will know or come to know that best gift of all is a healthy happy family who knows the true meaning of Christmas.

I love a good sock. These socks incorporate wool which I love because I am a sheep farmer. Minus that the sock just rocks. I like a sock that hugs my feet (not too tight) but stays put. These are great in your barn boots, running shoes or your date night boots/booties. They have socks for ever occasion

No one wants their backside to hang out or have to keep tugging on their tank to keep it in place. A tank top that stays in place is a great price and can be worn under anything. I love the quality and versatility.

I have been using this service for a few years. I can not say enough good things about it. Get a box with 5 items on request or every month. I love the variety and brands of clothing they send. Some I have never heard of but they are always different pieces that you won’t find in your local department store. Tall, short or petite fill out the questioner and identify your style and what you need and you will get a box of items sure to delight. Don’t like it or it doesn’t fit…send it back in the postage paid bag they send to you in your box. This is a great gift to give as well.

This seems completely out of line for something I would want. I got the generation 3 watch and it is amazing. I have the mate black. They make fun bands I hear but I haven’t tried those out yet… maybe I will get one for Christmas. It is perfect for being active and not wanting to have your phone in your pocket all the time. Great for teachers who need to stay connected and busy moms moving around the house chasing kids (there is a ping my phone feature for when you can’t find your phone…just saying case this happens to you). It is also wonderful if you work outside or in the barn, no need to carry your phone. Very active its the perfect watch to swim, run or workout.

What a fun little gadget. They makes these so you can put your logo or design your own personal tailored pop socket too! Great give away for trade shows or advertising. Pop, tilt, wrap, prop, collapse, grip, repeat – Pop Sockets are great for enhancing the grip and capabilities of your phone. They have a secure grip for texting, calling, photos, and selfies – compatible with all smartphones and tablets. Works in landscape and portrait modes for watching videos, web surfing, texting, gaming, group photos, FaceTime, and Skype. The pop socket allows your hand to relax while securely holding your phone – never drop your phone again from lost grip.

I have been using oils for at least 5 years. I was very skeptical about rubbing oils on the bottoms of my feet or on my neck…..it honestly sounds ridiculous. Crazy lady right? I am telling you they work they have healed Parker’s ear aches, infections and saved us from getting tubes. They can be used as immune system boosters, pain relief and healing and antibacterial. There is an oil for everything. Recently I started diffusing in each of our bedrooms. We stay pretty healthy and I attribute some of that to oils. My faves are Tea Tree Oil, Lavender, Frankincense and Thieves. This is a great gift and pair the oils with a diffuser and you have the perfect gift.

I feel like lots of people my age are on the band wagon of skin care. I used another name brand line most of my life. I have a friend who had been using Rodan Fields for a while when I asked her what she was using for her skin. R&F was her answer and it took me another 6 months to finally make the decision to splurge and try this line. As I am approaching 40 I am starting to realize the importance of skin care. I completely embrace my fine lines and wrinkles which are who I am. I just love what these products do and how they make my skin feel.

The Boise name speaks for itself. This is a great size for travel, camping in the house or outdoor use. The sound is a fabulousquality and of course it connects easily with any device that is Bluetooth capable.

Looking for a gift for the woman who has it all? This is a good one for the woman who loves to bake or make things from scratch. I have been making my own vanilla for a few years now and love the quality and the fact that I made it. Gift a bottle of Vodka. I use Tito’s. Use what ever you like as long as it comes in a glass bottle. Combine it with Madagascar vanilla beans and the bottles to place it in once finished. It’s a fabulous gift from start to finish. Make your favorite cocktail using the vodka, to enjoy while making your vanilla. You need a little of the vodka displaced to allow for the vanilla beans so it only makes sense to indulge. Click here for recipe.

Buying for young children can seem overwhelming when they don’t really need anything at all. We have always been selective in toys never gone over board. I do love toys or gifts that teach and keep kids entertained. Here are some ideas if you are stuck in a rut.

These are a toy that every child who comes to our house pre-schooler or pre-teen plays with. They help with imagination and engineering. These are pricey but totally worth it. If you are watching your wallet start with the smaller kit. I do recommend getting some of the add on pieces so they can have build more options. You will not be disappointed with this purchase I promise. (click on link or photos to purchase)

Here’s how it works.
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 and 4! You can also gift a gift card.
-Sizes newborn through size 14-
Start by taking the quick and fun style quiz. You can receive a personalized box 5 times a year. The items will be name brand and always known names of good quality. SKIP a box as you please.
Choose your faves, only pay for what you keep and you can exchange sizes too.
I love that there is a give back. They donate a new clothing item to a child in need for every box kept and you get to pick which organization will get the clothing. *This is a clothing subscription box that can be ordered one box at a time or each season. The link is to my code I will save a little as will you. In fact you save $25! Don’t miss out on this savings.

CLASSIC PIECES – This set comes classic K’NEX rods and connectors. These pieces can be attached to one another in different ways. It allows your children to create a multitude of shapes, figures, and structures with ease. The snap fit pieces stick together securely and can be easily reassembled into other creations. Great creative and engineering play. It says ages 7 and up however my kids played with them a little sooner than their recommendation.

This is a fabulous hands on way to learn how circuits work. Electrical parts provide students grades 2 and up (age 7+) with hands-on experience designing and building models of working electrical circuits. All the parts snap-together parts require no tools and ensure correct connections. This includes 30 parts, and instructions for over 100 projects, including working models of a photo sensor, a flashing light, and an adjustable-volume siren. This is great to have an adult work with the child, it makes for some amazing memories and everyone learns.

Shhh don’t tell Parker but he is getting Dash for Christmas. He has really been into the computer and programming things. STEM is such an excellent hands on way to teach children while they are having fun. Dash is a real robot for children ages 6 and up that is responsive to its world; your child can bring it to life with our free apps available on iOS and Android. Dash comes with hundreds of exciting coding adventures and projects available in Wonder and Blockly apps.

Use your Apple or Android smart phone or tablet to program Dash to move, dance, light up, make sounds, avoid obstacles, and even react to their voice. With the revolutionary free app Wonder, kids can program Dash to be the real robot pet, pal or sidekick of their dreams.

These are just the most adorable free play toys. I would say leaning more towards little girls these are sure to inspire hours of pretend play. I wish i had known about these when Campbell was little. There are so many different critters and different vehicles and play scenes you can add. They are built well and what can I say they are just cute!

Cookies seem to be on plates at every Christmas party or gathering the month of December. There is none quite as quintessential as the Ginger Cookie. We make a delicious rolled ginger cookie that has a little crunch on the outside and a soft and chewy center. This confection has been around since the 15th century and has been a tradition in my family since I was a child. The recipe is a great make ahead and it’s perfect to make one day and bake another. Whether you are making gingerbread boys or gingerbread girls, this recipe is guaranteed to make your house smell fabulous and bring smiles to the faces of anyone who indulges.

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Christmas is all about tradition! I have a few favorites and reading with the children has been one we have done for the last 10 years. We read a Christmas book each evening before bed in the month of December. I live with Mr. Christmas (Parker) and this year we started reading our collection a little early. Parker loves Christmas and he embraces tradition and everything that goes along with Christmas.

We have collected quite the Christmas book library over the years. I wanted to share with you a few of our favorite Christmas books. I always find it fascinating how different authors and illustrators tell the Christmas story in so many different ways. Remember we celebrate Christmas which is not about who can buy the best gift, it’s about the birth of our King which is the Best Gift of all and it is FREE to all who believe.

This best-selling children’s book tells the Easter story from a new and unusual point of view. All who read will be deeply touched as they understand, perhaps for the first time, the significance of Christ’s life and his atoning sacrifice on the cross.

It was not such a silent night when Baby Jesus was born. From baa, baa, baa of nearby sheep and the flut-flut-flutter of angel wings to the excitement that accompanies every baby’s birth, the sounds must have been extraordinary. Reverent and rhythmic, listen to the Silent Night invites you to hear those sounds and imagine that miraculous night, while gorgeous paintings set the Nativity scene and capture the splendor of the first Christmas. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, this warm retelling serves as a gentle reminder that if we stop and listen, we might even hear the true meaning of Christmas.

The skies shouted it to the seas that thundered it to the waves that roared it to the great white whales that sang it to the starfish in the deer. And tiny sandpipers danced it on shinning sands….”Its’ time! It’s time!” The entire universe is breathless with anticipation…The joyous news spreads out across fields, deserts, oceans- from stars, to trees, to robins to flowers. Sheep tell their young. Angel’s sing to the shepherds. And together they all join in nature’s great chorus of praise to the newborn King. The long-awaited child has come!

Joshua was a sad spotted lamb who had no parents and felt left out. He was born with one leg that didn’t work right. Abigail the cow was his best friend. When Joshua would get sad Abigail would tell him “God has a special place for those who feel left out.” Sometimes the other lambs were not nice to him. The lambs were going to move to greener pastures with their shepherd. The Shepard told Joshua he had better go back to the stable; he did not think he could make the trip.

Joshua fell asleep in the stable but was suddenly woken up by a strange noise. Joshua woke up Abigail and said he was scared. Someone was in the stable. They looked across and found a young woman with a baby resting in a feed box. The baby was crying and he was cold. Joshua lay with the baby to keep him warm. This little baby was the new king, his name was Jesus. Joshua had been born with a crippled leg but born with a very special purpose. “God had a very special place for him.”

This is a story about a little kitten who could not sleep because the stars were so bright especially one star in particular. Throughout the night a donkey, lamb, three mice, calf stopped in for food water and rest. They said they were on a very special journey following a bright star. The little kitten and its mother decided to follow their new friends. They ended up in a simple stable where they found a very special baby.

Share the story about the very first Christmas and do it with a loved ones voice recording. This is a Hallmark Gift Book and I treasure these books as they will keep voices of loved ones around even after they have passed or moved afar.

Among the grand balsams and firs at the Christmas tree lot is a little hunched tree that is missing several branches. Still, no tree is more filled with the spirit of Christmas. As the weeks go by, many others are selected but the little tree holds onto its hope of finding a home. On Christmas Eve now alone in the lot, the little tree receives a special visitor who might just give it what it wants most of all.

Santa Claus- also known as Father Christmas is about to set off on his Christmas Eve delivery of toys all over the world. But at the very last moment, Mother Christmas calls him back, because she can’t find Baby Christmas anywhere in the house. Unknown to them, Rudolph Junior has taken Baby Christmas on a magical sleigh ride over snowy rooftops. Rudolph and Baby Christmas are doing some gift delivering all on their own!

Rollo loves to romp and play. He just can’t help being a wild little troll who does whatever he wants whenever he wants. Once more Momma and Papa Troll ask for his help one time too many. Rollo grabs his rucksack and runs off across the tundra. He has no problem finding animal families to live with and moves from one to another causing mischief and mayhem. It’s nearly Christmas is it time to go home? How will he get there? Its a warm loving story for your family to share.

Little Teeka thought she had to be firm with the reindeer to get them ready for Santa’s important flight, but when her bossy yelling only got their antlers tangled up, she knew she had to try something different.

I am a total type A personality and take pride in doing everything as best I can. Sometimes perfection is not how we ever imagined it would be. Sometimes perfectly imperfect is the most wonderful. Before children I used to make this same recipe and my cookies were decorated in what I thought was the most perfect way and then take the perfect photo. Today we make these very same cookies and I think they have never looked more perfect and the photography is on point. I have learned to appreciate the sprinkles all over the floor and counters and icing smeared on shirts and knife handles and even kid food photography. Cookie making, baking and decorating is a family tradition. I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe and the many memories that are made while doing it. It is the perfect cutout cookie that has perfectly imperfect memories.

Cream margarine and sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla mixing well. Add baking soda, powder, salt and cream of tartar. Combine well. Stir in half of the flour, mix then add the remaining flour and mix. Dough will be soft. Chill overnight or at least several hours. Remove from refrigerator and roll out on to a floured surface. Roll dough out to ½ inch thick, cookie is best when it is thick. Cut out with your favorite seasonal cookie cutter. Bake at 350 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10-15 minutes or until just done. You do not want a brown cookie. Let cool and decorate with your favorite icing.